ST. LOUIS – Aaron Johnson’s first goal of the season snapped a third-period tie and the Columbus Blue Jackets ended a seven-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

Manny Malhotra had a goal and two assists, Luke Richardson and Martin Brule also scored, and Jody Shelley had two assists for the Blue Jackets, who tied their season best for goals and leapfrogged the Blues in a battle for the NHL basement.

The Blue Jackets, who scored only nine goals during their losing streak and entered the game with a league-worst 40 goals, have 12 points and lead the Blues by one point.

Barret Jackman scored his first two goals of the season for the Blues, who have lost three in a row while surrendering 15 goals. The Blues blew a one-goal, third-period lead for the second straight night, following a 5-3 loss at Minnesota on Friday.

The Blue Jackets scored in the opening minute of the first and third periods and matched their season goals mark set Oct. 21 against the Sharks. They won for only the second time on the road in 12 games, and won after trailing following one period for the first time in nine tries all season.

Johnson, a defenseman playing his second game of the season after being called up earlier in the week, scored his third career goal in 31 games on a power play at 9:56 of the third. Johnson pinched in from the left point and tapped a rebound past Curtis Sanford.

Jackman’s second goal of the game, a wrist shot off a faceoff, put the Blues ahead 3-2 in the final minute of the second period.

Brule’s second goal of the season tied it at 28 seconds of the third.

The Blue Jackets scored on the first shot of the game in the opening minute, a wrister from Malhotra from the high slot, but didn’t test Sanford again for another 15 minutes.

St. Louis tied it on Jackman’s first goal of the season, a wrist shot through traffic at 7:16, and took the lead on Sillinger’s power-play goal at 14:34.

Richardson’s first goal since Feb. 27, 2004, a one-timer in front of the net off Malhotra’s setup, tied it at 2 at 13:52 of the second. It was the 33rd career goal in 18 NHL seasons for the 36-year-old defenseman.

Notes: The Blue Jackets are 2-10 on the road and the other victory was 3-2 Oct. 9 at Chicago. … Blues D Bryce Salvador was out of the lineup after taking a shot off a knee on Friday. … Blue Jackets G Marc Denis missed his third game with a groin injury.

AP-ES-11-26-05 2235EST

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